, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath
and Shadow Leader of the House, called on the government to hold
an urgent parliamentary debate to discuss UK arms exports to the
Middle East.
During Business Questions on 2nd May, the MP for Bath demanded an
urgent debate about UK arms exports to the Middle East in light
of a possibly imminent humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in
Rafah.
For years, the Liberal Democrats have consistently called for
tougher controls on UK arms exports to ensure that they are not
used in human rights abuses. Mrs Hobhouse emphasised her party's
calls to the government for a ‘presumption of denial' to apply to
countries whose governments are listed in the Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) annual Human Rights and Democracy
report. A 'presumption of denial' would mean that the default
position of the UK Government would be not to permit arms
exports, but that Ministers could approve them on a case-by-case
basis, provided there is no risk of arms exports being used in
breaches of humanitarian law.
The FCDO report lists countries across the world where human
rights breaches are taking place. For many years, the report has
included actions taken by the Israeli Government in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories under its Human Rights Priority list.
drew the government's
attention to the fact that a presumption of denial would mean
that no arms exports would be transferred from the UK to Israel.
Subsequently, she asked , Leader of the House of
Commons, for an urgent debate in government time on UK Arms
Exports to the Middle East.
In her response, Mrs Mordaunt emphasised that the government was
taking a stringent approach to UK export control and would ensure
that policies would be scrutinised in the House of Commons.
, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath
and Shadow Leader of the House, commented:
“In the light of a possibly imminent humanitarian catastrophe in
Rafah, if the Israeli government does carry out their threats to
attack, it is imperative that the UK government reviews its
position on arms exports to ensure that they are not used in
human rights abuses.
“The government must urgently make time in the House of Commons
to discuss UK arms exports to the Middle East, and work alongside
the international community to prevent escalation and secure a
lasting peace in the region.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
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1) The exchange between and can be found here.
